Deep Dental Cleaning, Are You Due For One?

Deep Dental Cleaning, Are You Due For One?

Looking for a deep dental cleaning?

Stages of periodontal disease from healthy gums to gingivitis, periodontitis and tooth loss.

If you are diagnosed with gum disease, understand that you are not alone. More than 64 million grown-ups in the U.S. are undergoing or have had gum disease according to the CDC. Gum disease is treatable, treatable and preventable.

Deep cleaning your teeth might seem like something you should do after you’ve avoided a few appointments to the dentist or eaten an unusually sticky, messy meal. A deep cleaning is a specific method performed by the dental hygienist to treat gum and periodontal disease. The deep cleaning is regularly performed because a person has not had regular professional cleaning visits every six months.

Gum Disease and it’s Diagnosis

Gum disease is determined when examining reveals one or more periodontal pockets, or spaces where the gum has drawn away from the tooth. Only one quadrant, or part of the mouth, may be affected in some cases. In separate cases, the affected areas may cover the entire mouth.

Gum disease may be caused by an absence of regular and proper brushing and flossing, prolonged periods of time separating regular professional dental cleanings, and other associated conditions such as diabetes. Women who are pregnant may also encounter temporary bouts of inflammation and gum disease which should be watched by a dentist.

Gum disease can be handled at Troy Family Dental in the St. Louis Metro East area (covering Troy, Edwardsville, Alton, Collinsville, O’Fallon, and Belleville areas) using a procedure called scaling and root planing, also known as a deep cleaning.

Periodontitis is a inflammatory diseases affecting the periodontium, the tissues that surround and support the teeth

Deep Cleaning versus Regular Cleaning

Dental deep cleaning, is much different from a normal cleaning. A regular cleaning centers on the surfaces of the teeth and between teeth over the gum line. During a routine cleaning, the teeth are also polished.

A deep dental cleaning, or scaling and root planing, is required to eliminate bacteria, tartar, and debris that has accumulated under the gum line.

The appearance of tartar under the gumline constitutes a haven for bacteria to accumulate, and cannot be eliminated by brushing, flossing or with a general cleaning. The appearance of this bacteria produces an immune response from the body. The immune response results in inflammation, to combat the bacterial infection. If gone untreated, the infection and contamination will continue and advance further under the gum line, resulting in loosened teeth and bone loss, and eventually, the loss or damage of one or more teeth.

The Demand for Deep Dental Cleaning

While going to the dentist, the dental hygienist will use a device called a probe to measure the space around your teeth to see if you have any pocketing. The depth of the gum tissue within the teeth and gums are called pockets if it is five millimeters or more. The American Academy of Periodontology suggests that every adult undergoes a periodontal evaluation each year to determine if additional treatment is required. Checking pocket depth is just one part of a complete dental evaluation.

Normal healthy pockets will be no larger than 3 millimeters deep, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Whenever the pockets are greater than 5 millimeters, your dentist might order a deep scaling and root planing appointment with our dental hygienist.

Scaling & Root Planing Procedure

During the visit at Troy Family Dental, your dentist or dental hygienist will typically but not always numb the area to be treated. Next, your dental professional will thoroughly work under the gum line to sweep away the tartar and debris. After this, your dentist may thoroughly shape, the root of the tooth, to eliminate places where bacteria can accumulate in the future. Your dentist or hygienist may also give you recommendations and demonstrations on how to clean your teeth in a more comprehensive way. The dental hygienist can complete scaling and root planing using both electric or ultrasonic instruments or manual scaling devices.

Healing from a deep cleaning is normally very simple. The dentist may prescribe an antibiotic regimen for you to follow, and can recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever if you are encountering any discomfort or tenderness in the therapy area. The dentist will provide you with aftercare directions, and should confirm with you when you should be ready to resume a normal oral hygiene routine, comprising of regular brushing and flossing. We may suggest you return for a check-up visit to make sure all is recovering well.

Gum disease can be handled and often cured, but may need regular ‘maintenance’ appointments, usually every three months, in the beginning, to watch the status of your teeth, gums and bone to make certain your gums have improved, and the bacteria has not returned. There may be some individuals who can be predisposed to having gum disease will need to come back for routine periodontal maintenance cleanings, and others will be able to go back to a regular hygiene routine and 6-month dental check-up visits.

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Disclaimer: This website, www.troyfamilydental.com, is provided for information and education purposes only. No doctor/patient relationship is established by your use of this site. No diagnosis or treatment is being provided. The information contained here should be used in consultation with a dentist of your choice. No guarantees or warranties are made regarding any of the information contained within the website. This website is not intended to offer specific medical or dental advice to anyone. Richard Boatman, D.M.D. and Jordan Spencer, D.D.S. are licensed to practice in the state of Illinois. Further, this website, www.troyfamilydental.com, Richard Boatman, D.M.D. and Jordan Spencer, D.D.S. take no responsibility for websites hyperlinked to this site and such hyperlinking does not imply any relationships or endorsements.